Passengers and visitors walk through the multi tiered Grand Lobby of Cunard's newest luxury liner, the Queen Victoria, which docked at pier 35 for a one-day-only visit on Wednesday January 27, 2010 in San Francisco, Calif. The ship, which has over 1,000 staterooms, a Royal Theater, a grand ballroom, and restaurants galore, is starting the first segment of its World Voyage and will be heading to Hawaii for the next leg of its trip. less

Passengers and visitors walk through the multi tiered Grand Lobby of Cunard's newest luxury liner, the Queen Victoria, which docked at pier 35 for a one-day-only visit on Wednesday January 27, 2010 in San ... more

Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle

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San Francisco City Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier smiles while being greeted before addressing a disaster volunteer summit at Fort Mason in San Francisco, Thursday, April 3, 2008. In San Francisco $1.1 million may not buy much real estate, but even here a plan to spend that amount to install a wheelchair ramp in City Hall has incited rancor and a political tug-of-war. The ramp would bring the Board of Supervisors' chambers into compliance with laws that govern wheelchair accessibility. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) less

San Francisco City Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier smiles while being greeted before addressing a disaster volunteer summit at Fort Mason in San Francisco, Thursday, April 3, 2008. In San Francisco $1.1 million ... more

Photo: Eric Risberg, AP

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San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom excepts a plaque honoring San Francisco's hospitality to Cunard's newest luxury liner, the Queen Victoria, on Wednesday January 27, 2010 in San Francisco, Calif. The 11 deck ship, here for a one-day-only visit, has over 1,000 stateroom, a Royal Theater, a grand ballroom, and restaurants galore. less

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom excepts a plaque honoring San Francisco's hospitality to Cunard's newest luxury liner, the Queen Victoria, on Wednesday January 27, 2010 in San Francisco, Calif. The 11 deck ... more

Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle

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The crew of the Cunard Line's Queen Victoria cruise ship gave Mayor Gavin Newsomthe royal treatment Wednesday, hosting "the man of this golden city" as the captain called him on their hours-long stop at Pier 35.

The schmoozing took place in the Hemispheres nightclub on the 10th floor of the ship. Picture platters of sushi, Champagne, string musicians, views of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge, and an ice sculpture of the Statue of Liberty. (Perhaps the British cruise line forgot which American port they were in?)

Newsom used the setting to announce that the Port of San Francisco has sold $36.65 million in revenue bonds, $10 million of which will pay for the design of a new international cruise ship terminal at Pier 27. In addition, $5 million will go to repairs on the current terminal; $8 million for improvements to the Pier 90-94 Backlands, a 23-acre swath of downtrodden port property on the southern waterfront; and the rest will be spent on other projects.

The new cruise ship terminal will serve as a special event facility when not being used by ships. Construction is expected to begin in 2012 and be completed two years later.

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The Queen Victoria is on its 15th day of a 99-day trip around the world. It came from Acapulco and set sail Wednesday night for Hawaii. Newsom said the cruise's passengers were expected to spend $800,000 in San Francisco during their visit.

The mayor said he wished he had time to stay on the ship. We know the feeling. "It's something I look forward to ... if I get enough time off," he said of taking a cruise. He may have plenty of time come January 2012.

- Heather Knight

Dropping out: Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier, who has been sidelined by an injury, dropped out of her race for state insurance commissioner. Her husband, Tom Pier, made the announcement Wednesday.

Alioto-Pier injured her leg and underwent surgery two weeks ago, her husband said. She is still hospitalized.

Alioto-Pier, who represents the Marina, Pacific Heights, Sea Cliff and adjacent neighborhoods in District 2, has not attended a meeting at City Hall since the holiday break. Pier said his wife has every intention to return to work, but when has not been determined. He said her staff is in touch with her daily.

Park patrols: San Francisco park officials said Wednesday that they are considering redeploying staff to high-crime areas to keep better watch over the public bathrooms under their jurisdiction.

The proposal was made in response to a reported sexual assault of a 17-year-old girl in the bathroom at Garfield Square in the Mission District on Jan. 16. The park clubhouse was closed at the time - early on a Saturday evening - but the adjacent bathroom remained open. Police arrested one suspect, 35-year-old Manuel Martir.

San Francisco Recreation and Parks General Manager Phil Ginsburg, who last year ordered that high-use restrooms remain open even when staff isn't around, defended the practice.

While decrying the assault, he said the department is trying to balance public safety with the public's desire to have bathrooms available. Department spokesman Elton Ponsaid staff now is exploring how to keep certain parks and playgrounds staffed on weekends and evenings. Garfield, at 26th and Harrison streets, is on the list, he said.